representing: BJARTE SANDAL
Kurated by is proud to represent Bjarte Sandal, founder of Smau, for commercial collaborations. With a distinctive approach to architecture, design and sensory experiences, Bjarte brings a unique creative perspective to brands looking to explore new ideas and possibilities.
Bjarte Sandal is the founder of Smau, a practice rooted in architecture and design. His recent work includes collaborations with Porsche, Myklé and Matre.
KURATED BY will represent Bjarte, handle enquiries and help develop commercial collaborations, while keeping his perspective on architecture, design and materiality at the centre.
We sat down to talk about what drives him, what he wants to create next and where he sees the partnership going.
KB: What was the original drive behind starting Smau, and what continues to motivate you today?
BJARTE: I’ve always had a creative urge and a fascination with concepts, architecture, design and fashion. What connects them is their visual language and the stories they tell. Smau grew naturally out of that combination. Today, I’m still driven by the desire to create something distinctive and meaningful.
KB: What values connect the different projects you’ve worked on?
BJARTE: For me, it’s about creating sensory experiences. Architecture is about much more than what we see — it’s also about sound, smell, texture and how a space makes us feel. I want my work to engage the senses and create an atmosphere you can almost feel through an image.
KB: How do you balance your own point of view with working commercially for different clients and brands?
BJARTE: Creating sensory rich architecture and design is almost a lifelong mission for me. Commercial collaborations offer an opportunity to share that vision with a wider audience and introduce people to new perspectives. For me, it’s about bringing something meaningful to the collaboration while staying true to what I believe in.
KB: What do you enjoy about bringing your perspective into commercial collaborations, such as Porsche and Myklé?
BJARTE: I’m fascinated by the relationship between past and future. Both Porsche and Myklé have elements of timelessness, heritage and classic design, while also looking forward.
I’m drawn to combining the familiar with the unexpected to create something new. I don’t necessarily want to reinvent everything; I want to reinterpret existing ideas in a way that feels unique. Bringing different worlds together through commercial collaborations is incredibly exciting to me.
KB: What kinds of commercial projects would you like to do more of in the coming years?
BJARTE: I’m particularly drawn to brands with a strong history and a clear identity. I’m also interested in the contrast between natural and man-made materials, warmth and coolness, and classic forms with a contemporary twist.
A collaboration with a watchmaker like Panerai would be an exciting example. I could imagine developing a distinctive colour palette and details for a watch, complemented by a bespoke wooden presentation box - of course with an unexpected inside. It would bring our two worlds together while respecting the brand’s heritage.
KB: Are there particular industries, brands or types of collaborations you feel especially drawn towards?
BJARTE: I’m drawn to brands with a strong heritage and a clear design language, particularly when there’s room to reinterpret something classic in a new way. Watchmaking is one example, as it offers opportunities to explore materials, colours, craftsmanship and detail. More broadly, I’m interested in collaborations where two distinct creative worlds can meet and create something unexpected.
KB: What do you want people to understand about Smau, and what would you never want it to become?
BJARTE: I want people to recognise something distinctive in my work — something slightly unexpected that doesn’t quite fit the mould. It doesn’t have to be completely unfamiliar, but it should challenge expectations in some way.
Above all, I want people to feel something. A space should make you want to be there. It might create calm and invite you to slow down, or it might feel energetic and uplifting. Through materials, natural light and atmosphere, I want to create spaces that engage the senses and evoke an emotional response.
KB: What do you want your partnership with KURATED BY to unlock, and what would make it the right next step?
BJARTE: I’m curious about people, their ideas and what they create. KURATED BY feels like an environment that is curious, forward-thinking and open to new perspectives.
I hope the partnership will introduce me to new people, relationships and opportunities that create value for everyone involved. If it leads to meaningful connections and exciting collaborations, I’ll feel it was the right next step.
